A former employee at HMV tonight claimed responsibility for using its official
Twitter feed to “live tweet” her and others' mass firing.

The online revolt over the stricken music retailer's "ruin" came as administrators laid off 190 people at its head office and its distribution network. Finance director Ian Kenyon, appointed in August, is understood to have been among that number.

As the redundancies took place on Thursday, the @hmvtweets feed on the social networking site went distinctly off message, starting with a tweet reading:

“I would apologise for the #hmvXFactorFiring tweets but I felt like someone had to speak. As someone without a family to support/no mortgage I felt that I was the safest person to do so,” she wrote via her personal Twitter account.

<noframe>Twitter: Poppy Rose - I hoped that today's actions would finally show them the true power and importance of Social Media, and I hope they're finally listening.</noframe>

A family member, also on Twitter, said that “strangers fired mass groups” at the company and that Poppy was “already receiving job offers” in social media following her actions.

The string of tweets from HMV's official account had read: “There are over 60 of us being fired at once! Mass execution, of loyal employees who love the brand.

“Sorry we've been quiet for so long. Under contract, we've been unable to say a word, or - more importantly - tell the truth.

"Under usual circumstances, we'd never dare do such a thing as this. However, when the company you dearly love is being ruined... and those hard working individuals, who wanted to make HMV great again, have mostly been fired, there seemed no other choice."

The messages, which were all tagged #hmvXFactorFiring, were quickly deleted. However, they none the less spread rapidly across the site as users retweeted the posts and grabbed screenshots of the comments. "Never fire the person in charge of your Twitter feed without revoking their access first," came the advice from one onlooker.

The Tweeter's identity known within the company, but no action was taken as she has already been let go. HMV said in a later tweet that it had been the actions of an "upset colleague".

Administrators to HMV meanwhile confirmed that 190 redundancies had been made across the companies’ head office and distribution network.

Nick Edwards of Deloitte said: “Since our appointment as administrators over two weeks ago, we have been assessing the financial position of HMV.

“Following this review, a number of redundancies at the head office and distribution centres have been made. Although such decisions are always difficult, it is a necessary step in restructuring the business to enhance the prospects of securing its future as a going concern.”

He said he was hopeful that the restructured business has a future. What shape it takes is likely to be decided by its suppliers and Hilco, the restructuring specialist, which last week bought the bank debt behind the retailer.

Hilco paid around £40m to buy out a syndicate of eight lenders – including Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland – to be left as the sole secured creditor to HMV, leaving it in a powerful position to take control of the retailer.

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - There are over 60 of us being fired at once! Mass execution, of loyal employees who love the brand. <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=hmvXFactorFiring" target="_blank">#hmvXFactorFiring</a></noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - Sorry we've been quiet for so long. Under contract, we've been unable to say a word, or -more importantly - tell the truth <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=hmvXFactorFiring" target="_blank">#hmvXFactorFiring</a></noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - Under usual circumstances, we'd never dare do such a thing as this. However, when the company you dearly love is being ruined...</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - ...and those hard working individuals, who wanted to make hmv great again, have mostly been fired, there seemed no other choice.</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - Especially since these accounts were set up by an intern (unpaid, technically illegal) two years ago.</noframe>

Then, at around 5.55pm, there were these tweets:

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - Our <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hmvtweets" target="_blank">@hmvtweets</a> picked up a lot of attention today, it&rsquo;s clearly been a tough day for us all at hmv, please stick with us <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=hmvxfactorfiring" target="_blank">#hmvxfactorfiring</a></noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: hmv - There have been job losses today, but not in our stores. We are still open for business, thx for your continued support <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=savehmv" target="_blank">#savehmv</a></noframe>